Global creative agency Wieden+Kennedy has hired design veterans Nicole Jacek and Noreen Morioka as heads of design, leading its 100+person Portland design studio.
Jacek and Morioka will oversee client projects, creative direction and business development for the studio, which has recently completed projects for Nike, KFC and Airbnb.
The duo is relocating to Portland from Los Angeles, where Jacek has been running her own design agency NJ(L.A.) since 2013, focusing on creating high-value brand experiences and communication platforms for clients such as Adobe, Nike and The New York Times. Projects include the redesign of GOOD Magazine and the restructuring and brand building of the ADC Young Guns—turning an awards show into a cultural platform for the most interesting, innovative and future-shaping creatives from around the world in partnership with NeueHouse, Shutterstock and Master & Dynamic. Curated talent included rockstar Young Guns Max Weisel, Kerby Jean-Raymond and Laila Gohar.
Morioka has been creative directing San Francisco-based Japanese luxury skincare line Tatcha as chief creative officer, prior to joining Wieden+Kennedy.
Jason Bagley, executive creative director, Wieden+Kennedy Portland, stated: “As we continue to invest in our design studio, Nicole and Noreen were exactly the type of provocative, world-class design leaders we were looking for. They understand the impact creativity and design thinking can have on brands and culture. But almost more importantly, they have a track record of building strong teams, and nurturing, attracting and developing amazing talent.”
Prior to founding NJ(L.A.), Jacek began her career at Sagmeister Inc. (now Sagmeister & Walsh) before joining The Designers Republic and New York’s karlssonwilker as art director and creative director. She is an award-winning designer with honors from the Type Directors Club, Red Dot, ADC Young Guns, Print Magazine and D&AD and served as the youngest Art Directors Club board member, chair of the ADC Young Guns Committee and One Club board member.
As CCO at Tatcha, Morioka was managing both the designers and cross-functional teams across products for the US, China and Japan markets. Before Tatcha, she was co-founder and partner of AdamsMorioka for 25 years—leading re-branding of Nickelodeon, VH1, Sundance and The Academy of Motion, Picture Arts and Sciences.
Morioka has served as president of the Los Angeles Chapter of AIGA, chair of the AIGA National President’s Council, Fellow of the International Design Conference at Aspen, chair of the James Beard Foundation Award for Design and Architecture, and board member of the Art Director’s Club in New York. In 2006, she was named as a fellow of the American Institute of Graphic Arts and in 2014 was awarded the AIGA Medal, one of the industry’s highest design honors.
“The design studio at W+K is the agency’s secret weapon–the contributions these designers have made to the culture and work is extraordinary,” said Morioka. “We intend to further cultivate that, while continuing to elevate design, and help adapt W+K culture and inspire the future of creative to succeed in today’s changing creative landscape. W+K has helped brands become modern, world-class marketers from day one, and our design offering is no different.”
Jacek noted, “We can’t wait to share our combined experiences with an amazing team of talented individuals at W+K, creating great work and challenging culture with brands that appreciate the power of creativity and design.”
